Morning journal and courier., 1887-04-01
RUINED BY FAST LIVING

A New York Postal Clerks Long
 Career of Robbery Brought to an
 End.
 NEW YORK, March 31.-On Wednesday morning the superintendent of the pouch room of the New York postoffice found that package containing $1,o00 in currency which had arrived in pouch COG from Port land late Tuesday night was missing. It was from the First National bank of Port land addressed to the Central National bank of this city. The eighteen clerks who were in the room have good regulations, but the superintendent himself had checked the package and knew it must be concealed somewhere about the building. He sent for Chief Inspector Dosser, who took all the clerks to his office on the fourth floor and summoned Superintendent Bangs of Pinker toms agency. MT. Bangs soon arrived with several of his assistants and began a thoro ugh search of the men and building. The examination occupied all day Wednes- day and Wednesday night. At o'clock this morning the clerks were allowed to go except W. A. Clarke, whom the detectives suspect ed though they had no direct evidence. He was kept locked up, though he stoutly de-
 
 Aldrich after many hours search found the $10, 900 package at the bottom of closet in a corner of the registry department. The closet was an old one very seldom used and was half filled with rubbish. The package was concealed at the bottom of the rubbish. Clarke was told that the money was found and that evidence had been secured that he was the guilty party. He still protested his innocence and was left alone to reflect upon the situation. Later in the day he called for MT. Dosser and said: "As long as you have the evidence I might as we'll own up. l took the package from the bag and hid it. 1 sub stituted . package from St. Louis pouch and hoped in that way to cover up the loss until I had time to take it away as I did not think it would be missed until after had gone home" Clarke broke down and sobbed. When he became composed list of sixty-two ro5beries com mitted in the registry department during the past few years was read to him and he was told he was suspected of being the thief. He confessed in all but one case. The exception was as to package from Charleston con- taining $5, ,000 which was lost three years ago. He said he was led to steal in the hope of paying off pressing debts. He has of getting out of debt has plunged deeper in. | He has been in the department about five years, was regular at his work and efficient | He is about thirty years old, married and l lives at NO. S4U De halD avenue, 6rOO klyn. l All the sixty-two robberies were so skilfully | done that the ablest efforts of the detectives | employed have hitherto failed in revealing | the thief Clarke was too sharp to be caught | by decoy packages and always covered up his
 thefts to perfection.
 The Queens Trip to Cannes. l LONDON, March 31.-The heating of the
 springs under the railway carriage in which | the Oueen was travelling to Cannes copDel- | led the train to stop at LaRoche at San early hour last night. Her majesty was informed
 of the mishap and she directed that the
 journey be discontinued until daylight, | which was done. Shortly after daylight the Queen was transferred to another earrings and the train proceeded. Her majesty will + q ak Caur7ea tn-roorrOw